Tanning Supplies: Getting a Gorgeous Tan

You finally have some free time, and you have decided to get that gorgeous tan you have been longing for all winter. Before you go, however, you need to pick up some tanning supplies. In order to decide exactly what you need, determine whether you are going to be lying out in the sun or going to a tanning booth.

Tanning in natural sunlight has some distinct advantages. First, people who tan naturally will have a deeper, more natural tan, because the skin takes more than minutes to manufacture melanin, the pigment necessary for tanning. In addition, the ultraviolet (UV) rays that cause skin cancer are emitted less intensely from natural sunlight than from tanning beds.

If you are planning to tan in the sun, take a beach towel or chair. In, addition, take along eye protection. Use either tanning goggles or sunglasses that protect your eyes from damage caused by ultraviolet rays. UV rays can cause cataracts and corneal burns if you don’t properly protect your eyes.

Other necessary objects for tanning in the sun include sunscreen and possibly a radio or magazine. Lying in the sun for hours at a time can be boring, unless you have a friend along. Be sure to take along a watch or small clock as well, so that you can monitor the amount of time you are exposed to the sun.

If you don’t have hours to spend getting that perfect tan, prepare properly before you visit tanning beds or tanning booths. Be sure to wear eye protection. Special goggles are available to protect your eyes from damage caused by ultraviolet rays.

In addition, wear sunscreen, especially if you are wearing a tanning lotion or tanning bronzer. These items can actually increase your skin’s susceptibility to damage from sunburn or the aging effects of UV rays. If you decide to tan in tanning beds, use caution and common sense to protect yourself as much as possible.

Be aware that tanning beds frequently limit you to short periods, especially at first, because of the increased risk of sunburn. Even persons who have a deep outdoor suntan can burn after a few minutes in a tanning booth, so be careful. Don’t overdo it.

Tanning beds, tanning booths, and tanning in the sun can increase your risk of skin cancer. If you decide that getting that perfect tan is worth the risk, use common sense. Stop tanning if you are sunburned, and wear sunscreen and eye protection at all times.